Fear of being viewed as weak may be reason RGIII continued to play injured. This article brought up an interesting point I hadn't considered, but it basically compared RGIII's injury situation to that of Jay Cutler a few years ago. There are still people who say Jay Cutler is a wimp for not finishing that NFC Championship game after he injured his knee (hell, it is even in this very thread). The article posits that RGIII was afraid of being labeled the same way Cutler was, and that was why he pushed so hard to keep playing even though he was clearly not only injured, but completely ineffective. Now I don't actually think RGIII was sitting on the sideline going "Oh my god, I'll be labeled a wimp like Cutler! Gotta keep playing!" I do think that RGIII was thinking "until they cart me off the field, I am playing," and I think that mentality ultimately hurt not only himself, but his team's chances as well. Both situations have some similarities. Both were knee injuries, which can greatly affect a QB's ability to throw (if you can't plant your feet properly and push off, your throws won't be nearly as hard or accurate), although in RGIII's case it also took away his ability to run, and anyone who watched him limp for 9 yards on a QB keeper knows he absolutely couldn't run anymore, as that play with a healthy RGIII would've gotten a lot more than 9 yards. Cutler left the game after injuring his knee because it affected his ability to scramble and throw the ball, and ultimately he wasn't the best option at QB anymore because he couldn't do those things. RGIII wasn't the best option at QB for the Redskins, either. Cousins had shown a lot of skill and play making ability when he did play, and given how poorly RGIII played after those first two drives, Cousins likely would've given the Redskins a much better chance of winning. Basically, RGIII trying to gut it out and play ended up hurting not only his own knee, but also hurting his team's chances to advance. He didn't want to sit and be viewed as weak, but in doing so, he hurt his team and himself. I just think it is an interesting take on the situation, and it goes directly to something we'd discussed earlier in this thread regarding Cutler. In no way do I think RGIII was even THINKING about Cutler during that game, but I do think he was of the football mentality that he'd have to be carted off the field before he voluntarily left the game, and that ultimately hurt not only himself, but his team.
The issue with RGIII is that he was just not capable of making the decision to remove himself. First off, he's a rookie, so he has the least amount of experience determining whether he can continue or be effective. Second, since it's his first year AND he's in the playoffs, he's got more to prove than most others on the field. Who is going to say, "coach, I know this is my first year and all but I don't think I should be playing"? I think it's ridiculous that Shanahan allowed him to continue. If my employee risked the future of my organization like that, I'd probably fire him. It was Shanahan's job to make that call, and he failed. I know that doesn't really have a lot to do with Cutler, but I wouldn't presume to call him a pussy over an injury that I wasn't experiencing.
I could not agree more. No one has a crystal ball, I get that but at what point do you start looking toward the next season? Certainly that time should not have been when he was hurt so badly he had to leave the game, for good. Bad decisions all the way around. Also, I heard on ESPN the team Dr never examined him. Let me just repeat that, the TEAM DR NEVER EXAMINED HIM, to clear him to take the field that day. I don't even know how that's possible. Is it? Or is it BS?
You guys don't get the fact you're thinking about this sitting comfortably at home. When you're in the middle of the game and you have all this stuff going on, its not that simple. On top of the fact there was on odd communication with the doctor when RG3 sprinted back on the field after that first "re-injury" (he was already injured) Shanahan looked at the doctor and gave him this "hi" sign that could have either been "Yeah he's good to go" or "I don't know, I didn't see him." Shanahan thought everything was cool. That's the first thing, that's fact. They talked about it on ESPN and thats the final report. The second possibility floating in the air are two things. Shanahan pulls RGIII. Kirk Cousins comes in, but loses the game by a touchdown or less. RGIII is pissed he gets pulled, he's pissed, he starts talking to the media (also Dan Snyder) "I think if I was in that game we could have won it" yadda yadda yadda, you think Shanahan keeps his job? No fucking way. When it comes to the playoffs, coaches get scared, they get tense. Lovie Smith won 10 games and got fired. Yeah he hasn't been to the playoffs much, but no one expected him to get fired. Everyone is being Captain Hindsight on this. RGIII is a grown ass man. When you have a few seconds to make a decision, you get a wave from a Doctor and RGIII looking you in the eye and saying "Fuck it, I'm going back out there coach" its not easy. The bigger issue could have come from them not resodding and playing on shitty grass. Not like he got hit, he slipped on the grass.
Ravens will just not go away. I think the altitude will hit and Denver will run it out in the second half. Great game so far. In the second game I think the Packers are a lock. Rodgers is going be like Denzel in Man on Fire here. Revenge is the name of the game.
I'm actually not a Rodgers fan, one thing about the guy I can't deny is mentally he is up there with Brady in terms of 'fuck you'. Stolen off Bill Simmons:
Rodgers>>>Kaepernick, but I wish I shared your confidence. The rest of the 49ers team is a couple steps above Green Bay. Seriously, 'sack? He's one of the least offensive players in the nfl. Given your own character, your self righteousness when judging others is kind of incredible. Or are you just not interested in anything about the sport other than Tony Homo/ Belicheat/ insecure Rodgers/ Rapist burger?
This right here is why I fell out of my chair laughing at his little sentimental post in the drunk thread. Anyone has the slightest flaw, he's like judging like St. Peter. Anyway, Ravens making this a football game, but their offensive calling is fucking terrible. The Ravens D just doesn't have it in them anymore. They need every minute of rest the offense can give them. I always love how Flacco doesn't get Boldin the ball as much as he should, then he gets two huge passes to him and everyone realizes its been there all game.
I'm getting goosebumps at this third down stand. Will this be the end of Ray Lewis in the NFL? Is the hand of Gooddell present where we will definitely see Brady v. Manning? I just can't emotionally process this! And then they go conservative...
What a game. Too bad Flacco is going to fuck this up. Edit: Holy how in the what the fuck how? What an epic collapse for the broncos secondary.
There is going to be a lot of controversy about those last two third down calls if Baltimore wins this game. The first one I can understand, the second... I have no idea where that came from.